Otome Game Query

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Barzini
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Otome Game Query

#1 Post by Barzini »

Dear all,

We've been thinking about it for awhile and would like your thoughts on this. Based on our research, most otome main characters (PLAYER) are either never shown or a rather generic girl character is shown.

How hesitant would you be, or how much would you like it if say:

We allowed you to choose, at the game startup, three female characters to pick from?

One would be the generic girl character, and two others would be based off cosplayers in real life. How is that idea?
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Re: Otome Game Query

#2 Post by Mammon »

The more generic a girl protagonist, the less likely I'll like the game. Only thing worse is a non-visible MC. I like protag girls, they tend to have character and development that love interests in otaku tend to lack, so I don't want my otome's to be shallow.

If it's a purely cosmetic difference, no story impact I assume for now, being able to choose her appearance would be quite nice but it wouldn't actually have a massive impact. It's the personality rather than the appearance that shouldn't be shallow. Although such a choice would still be quite neat.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#3 Post by Sleepy »

I'm not only far less engaged with generic female protags but I'm also likely to dislike them. Especially in terms of personality. One of the issues I've had with otomes like Amnesia have been that it feels less like you're playing as a character and more like playing a wooden plank. I have vastly greater experiences playing as a heroine that's engaged with the plot and characters, and that involves letting them have a part in the story, since protags are very rarely actually meant to be the player.

This extends to appearances. While, arguably, you could have a generic or even faceless female protag and still have a personally, they're far more engaging when they have unique designs to them rather than looking like you went through a stock photo folder compared to everyone else.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#4 Post by Limabaen »

I don't know how closely you'd base these two girls off real people, but to be honest I'd find that pretty weird. It's like those people who ship youtubers: intrusive and kind of gross. Even if you had specific endorsement from the real people, I'd feel odd playing out a constructed version of someone's live personality. It's one of the reasons I've avoided games like Asagao academy.

Also, with the exception of mobile games, if you look at otome games that have been localised you'll find that the majority of them have actual personalities and appearances. In original english language otomes, protagonists tend to be distinct characters in their own right as well. Generic girls actually get quite a lot of hate from otome communities for being uninteresting and weak willed. If you take a look at Norn 9, a game with three heroines too, you'll find that the least liked heroine is the generic cheerful innocent girl, and even she has some semblance of personality; not to mention a defined look.

I'm all for having multiple protagonists as long as the quality is consistent and the length is satisfactory. Multiple perspectives can be refreshing and help me stay interested for longer. But if you're going to do that, you should definitely consider making them all fleshed out characters. And if it were me, I would think very hard about the whole "based on cosplayer" thing, though in the end it is your jurisdiction.

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Re: Otome Game Query

#5 Post by YonYonYon »

I don't like generic protagonists, but protagonists based on real people are bad in my book too. Maybe it depends on how much they resemble their original counterparts, but the whole "based on real people" feels really off
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Re: Otome Game Query

#6 Post by Barzini »

Would all of you then say that a well designed female character will be much better than one that is based off a real life person such as a cosplayer? I'm very inclined into not casting a generic female NPC or faceless NPC, but I'm hesitant on how I should pull off her appearance.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#7 Post by Mammon »

I think we don't quite understand the 'based off a real life person such as a cosplayer' part enough to really comment on that accurately, I know I don't. Do you mean that you plan to copy the look of a cosplayer from the internet for the sprite but add an original personality completely unrelated to them, or that you'll copy both looks and personality, or something else entirely? And will this be a recogniseable appearance, if you copy someone that people will know? (For example if you were to copy a Haruhi or Tracer cosplayer's appearance, so recogniseable-ish but not the same)
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Re: Otome Game Query

#8 Post by Barzini »

Hey Mammon, what I meant was to design the character's appearance after the cosplayer. It only affects the cosmetic appearance of the main character.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#9 Post by YonYonYon »

But do you have to copy their appearance? Like, why would you do that? Should it be an incentive for players to buy the game? Because I still think it's weird

Well, if it's just because you don't know about character design and plan to use the cosplayers as a reference then I more or less understand and am fine with it. Tho I wouldn't advertise the game as "you can play as so and so from cosplay community!" Because it's weird.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#10 Post by Mammon »

In that case, sure why not? If the personality is different and the look not too iconic, there should be no issue at all.

I assume you'll be taking a cosplayer rather than an anime sprite or other already drawn medium to prevent tracing/copying entirely, the conversion from real to drawn will prevent plagiasm. Be inspired by a Disney sprite, and your art style will probably be Disney-esk too. Copy from a Disney princess cosplayer, and the characteristics such as their eye method and impossibly small waists will not be included in your sprite. At least, I assume that is your motivation. There might be another one. But I assume you're planning on using a cosplayer without directly saying 'Based after this cosplayer!', just to make sure your sprite's clothes are anime.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#11 Post by Barzini »

YonYonYon wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:27 am But do you have to copy their appearance? Like, why would you do that? Should it be an incentive for players to buy the game? Because I still think it's weird

Well, if it's just because you don't know about character design and plan to use the cosplayers as a reference then I more or less understand and am fine with it. Tho I wouldn't advertise the game as "you can play as so and so from cosplay community!" Because it's weird.
Hey there, it is to see about bringing the cosplayer's fanbase as a marketing angle.
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Re: Otome Game Query

#12 Post by Barzini »

Mammon wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:59 am In that case, sure why not? If the personality is different and the look not too iconic, there should be no issue at all.

I assume you'll be taking a cosplayer rather than an anime sprite or other already drawn medium to prevent tracing/copying entirely, the conversion from real to drawn will prevent plagiasm. Be inspired by a Disney sprite, and your art style will probably be Disney-esk too. Copy from a Disney princess cosplayer, and the characteristics such as their eye method and impossibly small waists will not be included in your sprite. At least, I assume that is your motivation. There might be another one. But I assume you're planning on using a cosplayer without directly saying 'Based after this cosplayer!', just to make sure your sprite's clothes are anime.
Thank you so much for your valuable input! :) All of your feedback helps me craft the game!
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Re: Otome Game Query

#13 Post by Googaboga »

I did a survey a month or so ago about what people wanted to see in a VN. I got a few hundred responses. When it came to the protag there were two strong camps; people who wanted a totally distinctly MC with a sprite and nice design, and people who wanted a main character they could customize as much as possible (this was the bigger of the two in the end). Very few people had an interest in an invisible MC or really generic one. But those who chose a customizeable MC might choose a generic or invisible one over a distinct MC if customization isn't an option because of budget or what have you. My fanbase is mostly otome players, so maybe that info is useful here.

To answer the question personally, I definitely wouldn't choose an MC design that was based off a real person when faced with that choice. I don't like generic looking MCs either, but that's still preferable.

Though I do think there's a good amount of people who enjoy romance games featuring characters based of off or that are directly meant to be real people.

Whatever you decide to go with, good luck!
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Re: Otome Game Query

#14 Post by Barzini »

Thank you so much, gbpatch :D
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Re: Otome Game Query

#15 Post by trooper6 »

Barzini wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2017 7:39 am
YonYonYon wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2017 2:27 am But do you have to copy their appearance? Like, why would you do that? Should it be an incentive for players to buy the game? Because I still think it's weird

Well, if it's just because you don't know about character design and plan to use the cosplayers as a reference then I more or less understand and am fine with it. Tho I wouldn't advertise the game as "you can play as so and so from cosplay community!" Because it's weird.
Hey there, it is to see about bringing the cosplayer's fanbase as a marketing angle.
Unless you got the permission of that cosplayer to use their likeness in a romance game, I'd feel really uncomfortable and wouldn't pick up the game. I mean, how would you feel if you spent a lot of time and effort and money gaining an audience and then someone just copies your face in hopes of leeching off of your work, and then puts this copy of you in romantic situations without your consent. That's pretty creepy and not very ethical in my book. It is probably *legal*, but I 'd say it isn't very ethical.
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